Class A v 5th wheel

I have owned one B class and two A's and now a 5er. All have advantages and disadvantages. Set up and break down now is not much different with leveling in 5er's. For me you get the most bang for the buck from a 5er. Only thing we miss about a MH is dw using bathroom with out stopping. We both agree no more A's for us.

Lantley wrote:
The toad is self propelled. The class A driver can disconnect the toad at any point. The class A driver often disconnects the toad at the CG office and drives it to the site. Try that with a 5'er!

You miss my point. Regardless of where the toad is hitched and unhitched, that's time spent that's directly comparable to the time spent hitching and unhitching the 5th wheel.

Lantley wrote:
The class A has Sanicon sewer connections and powered 50 amp cord reels and other conveniences that most 5'ers just don't have.

Such as?? My post stated that I have a powered 50 amp cord reel as well. Sewer connections? Ummm, okay, I guess....

Lantley wrote:
I think the class A is just more convenient.....Did I mention the ability for the crew to move around while underway.

That's fine - your money and your choice, but the 5th wheel and the MH each have their advantages and disadvantages as has been pointed out in this thread. Until someone else is willing to write the check for my RVs, I'll weigh all the factors, run a cost/benefit analysis and vote with my wallet just like everyone else will.

Rusty

RustyJC wrote:

JTrac wrote:
I know this subject gets beat to death and generally changes no one's mind (not that it should) but I thought about what you said. Our traveling friends have a late model Entegra with all the bells and whistles. He still has to go outside to hook up his electric, sewer and water, just like me. He has to go outside to unhook his car, which I must say sometimes takes longer than it does for me to unhook the truck. The really big difference is in leveling. He has auto level and gets to stay inside and push his button. On the other hand I have to go outside to push the button on ours. :(

I agree. If the MH is pulling a toad that must be hitched/unhitched, then I'll bet there isn't 5 minutes difference in setup and teardown. I have auto-level. I have an electric power cord reel. I have on-board water filtration, power management and power protection systems. The auto-level system even remembers the elevation when the 5th wheel was unhitched, so with the push of a button, it will return the 5th wheel to the same elevation when we're ready to hitch up and leave.

Just like me, the MH still has to hook up to the power pedestal, the water supply and the sewer drop. I could see the ease of setup/teardown issue back when people were diddling with boards under tires and front/rear jacks to level 5th wheels, but with the options available, that's not necessary any more.

Rusty

The toad is self propelled. The class A driver can disconnect the toad at any point. The class A driver often disconnects the toad at the CG office and drives it to the site. Try that with a 5'er!
The class A has Sanicon sewer connections and powered 50 amp cord reels and other conveniences that most 5'ers just don't have.
I think the class A is just more convenient.....Did I mention the ability for the crew to move around while underway.

NC Hauler wrote:
I probably would have asked the question on the Class A forum...Most on here own 5th wheels...

I've looked at Class A's, but still like 5th wheel over it...I paid less for my truck and my 5er than I would have paid for a comparable Class A...Other than that, there probably will be those that have gone from an A to a 5er and can tell you about that, and I would imagine, as usual, they'll be a Class A owner or more come onto this forum and tell you the pro's on their class A....

yes - ask on the Class A forum.

Many folks here went the other way.

A lot (awful lot) depends on the depth of your wallet - for initial cost and maintenance.

Whether it's gas or diesel - figure at least double the cost for any drive line work - over a pickup.
Some shops aren't equipped to work on MHs - period.
(Check on wayxm's posts for his blown gas engine)

Go over to the IRV2 forums - which has a forum for many brands of MHs.
Follow along on the cost of drive line maint & repairs.

Also - no matter which you have, you will most likely be towing "something". (Class A = a "toad", Pickup = some kind of trailer)

Good luck with whatever "adventure" you choose.

BTW - I've had 2 (gas) A - MHs, Two TTs, one 11 1/2' TC, and a 5th.
If I was going to spend lots of time traveling, and had unlimited resources - I might consider a DP MH.

But - after inputing that thought.....Nyet!
Rather have a singled HDT (Smart car on the deck) with top-of-the line New Horizons 5th.
An HDT with sleeper is the best of both worlds - Tow Vehicle and MH - & can be used as a daily driver if desired.
Best of both worlds (TV & MH).

Way, way easier (and less expensive) maint & repairs than the DP, and will "out-tow" and "whoa!" better than anything on the road.

Choices, choices - - decisions, decisions - so little time!

Have fun, spend wisely!..:C

.

WOW
Thank you so much. Everyone has given excellent points, and believe me We will wiegh them all.

rattleNsmoke wrote:
The Beast is perfect for a weekend warrior family like ours and prolly has more interior roominess than most MH's.

That's an excellent point that I don't believe has been mentioned. Besides losing the room of the driver's compartment, a MH usually has shallower slideouts than a 5th wheel since a MH customer requirement is to be able to walk from the front to the back while on the road with the slides retracted. The slideouts in 5th wheels can be deep enough to just clear each other by a fraction of an inch when retracted.

Rusty

I've never owned a MH, nor do I have an inclination to until possibly retirement when we could go 8-10 months a year all over the country. The Beast is perfect for a weekend warrior family like ours and prolly has more interior roominess than most MH's. We have a center kitchen and rear entertainment center with face-to-face sofa\lounge chairs. My diesel p\u is currently my daily driver and with the price of fuel being as low as it is has helped my wallet. I couldn't cost justify having a MH sitting in the yard most of the time unused. Just my .02

JTrac wrote:
I know this subject gets beat to death and generally changes no one's mind (not that it should) but I thought about what you said. Our traveling friends have a late model Entegra with all the bells and whistles. He still has to go outside to hook up his electric, sewer and water, just like me. He has to go outside to unhook his car, which I must say sometimes takes longer than it does for me to unhook the truck. The really big difference is in leveling. He has auto level and gets to stay inside and push his button. On the other hand I have to go outside to push the button on ours. :(

I agree. If the MH is pulling a toad that must be hitched/unhitched, then I'll bet there isn't 5 minutes difference in setup and teardown. I have auto-level. I have an electric power cord reel. I have on-board water filtration, power management and power protection systems. The auto-level system even remembers the elevation when the 5th wheel was unhitched, so with the push of a button, it will return the 5th wheel to the same elevation when we're ready to hitch up and leave.

Just like me, the MH still has to hook up to the power pedestal, the water supply and the sewer drop. I could see the ease of setup/teardown issue back when people were diddling with boards under tires and front/rear jacks to level 5th wheels, but with the options available, that's not necessary any more.

Rusty

Lantley wrote:
For me the equation/discussion boils down to convenience vs. cost. A nice diesel pusher is much easier to use and set up than any 5'er.
Yes fiver's can be just as luxurious but they will never have the push button convenience of a class A.
However a class A will always be more expensive than a comparable fiver. In many cases a lot more expensive. Are you willing to pay for class A convenience? Do you need class A convenience?
Priorities and budgets are different for everyone. In the end there is no one size fits all response.

I know this subject gets beat to death and generally changes no one's mind (not that it should) but I thought about what you said. Our traveling friends have a late model Entegra with all the bells and whistles. He still has to go outside to hook up his electric, sewer and water, just like me. He has to go outside to unhook his car, which I must say sometimes takes longer than it does for me to unhook the truck. The really big difference is in leveling. He has auto level and gets to stay inside and push his button. On the other hand I have to go outside to push the button on ours. :(

For me the equation/discussion boils down to convenience vs. cost. A nice diesel pusher is much easier to use and set up than any 5'er.
Yes fiver's can be just as luxurious but they will never have the push button convenience of a class A.
However a class A will always be more expensive than a comparable fiver. In many cases a lot more expensive. Are you willing to pay for class A convenience? Do you need class A convenience?
Priorities and budgets are different for everyon. In the end there is no one size fits all response.